Fearless lioness creeps on, in large protective bubble. Boos are heard
"Sorry, my computer got taken away, thank you for the reviews, I was working on a system, where I had to have double the number of review as chapters, so that's two reviews a chapter but I've away so long I have to throw that away. It's all coming together soon, Alanna and Thom will meet. Does anyone want pairings? I hadn't planned on it but as a sorry I let anyone who wants it have a say"
I'm also running out of colours for my chapter titles, what a shame
Thom was slammed roughly into the wall. The large bully snickered as Thom tried desperately to hit him.
Thom felt anger boil inside him, he held out his hand and a tiny flame flickered, it shone brightly and bully staggered back.
"Why don't you pick on some more your size" said a cold voice.
Prince Jonathon and Gary watched him.
The ugly boy snickered and swore before running away.
Thom bent over as he wiped the blood from his nose.
"fine" he hissed, his checks burning with shame and humiliation.
Jon and Gary alarmed at Thom's defensiveness, backed off and slipped away.
"You're a bit scary sometimes" said Alex as Thom marched stiffly back to his room.
"Well excuse me" Thom snarled.
Alex slipped in front of him, "What's your problem" he asked frowning.
Thom hesitated, "nothing, it's my sister" he said
Alex raised a dark eyebrow "You're twin right?"
"yeah, well it's nearly our birthday" Thom told Alex
Alex gave a ghost of a smile and took Thom by the arm.
"Come on,"
Thom shivered in excited fear as they slipped out to the city.
It was dark and they should be asleep, his purple eyes were wide as he stared hungrily at the shops and stalls that covered the city.
Alex pushed his mouth close with a slender finger "Stop staring, farm boy" he said.
George whistled as he walked to the Dancing Dove, two pages walked past him, a scrawny violet eyed kid caught his gaze.
Images flashed through his head, Dog, rat, two identical boys.
George his mind filled with half images ran into them.
"Sorry" Said Thom.
George raised an eyebrow, Alex stared at him suspiciously.
"you're a thief" he stated
George smiled "Nah, I'm in the business of buying and selling, George at your service"
Thom looked at him strangely "Thom"
"Tell you what you haven't seen me and I'll make sure no one takes your purses, bad time to be out"
Thom suddenly snapped his fingers "You the man in the crowd!" he exclaimed.
George shrugged "yep, been at the palace?" he asked.
Alex was leaning against the wall, his arms folded and his face in shadow when he suddenly grabbed both Thom and George and dragged them next to him.
A cart rumbled past them.
"I'm your debt, Page Alex" George bowed low to Alex, a grin on his face, making his nose look smaller. "If either of you need me, go to the dancing dove, I'll be there."
Alanna began to change as they moved closer to Corus.
Her arms got stronger and her balance improved, the time spent with Ayla had made her reflexes improve and she started to move with a unconscious grace unknown to pages at the palace.
Alanna pulled the bronze costume up to her neck, she twirled around, the light catching it and making her shimmer.
Jason was groaning from outside, loudly making his boredom heard.
"If I had known you were going to spent hours in there looking at yourself I wouldn't have given you anything"
Alanna grinned to herself and twirled around again, they were going to the Corus soon, she wound her shoulder length hair round her fingers.
She wondered if people knew, what would her brother say.
Her good mood evaporated at the thought of Thom not believing her.
She looked at her bright red hair and at her narrowed. Her hand grasped the scissors.
Alanna muttered under her breath as she and Jason handed out circus posters.
"Why are we doing this again?" she asked
Jason took a deep breath "because the girls saw your hair, and they screamed so you screamed and I screamed 'cause you lot are really loud, but I scared the elephant who ran and knocked over Ayla's swords which cut the tent, which covered…"
Alanna put a hand over his mouth "ok, ok stop, please" she hissed, Alanna and Jason slipped into Corus's busy streets, her eyes were wide as she looked around, and her mind made her see Thom at the corner of her vision.
"we should spilt up" Alanna suggested.
Jason shrugged "Met you at the gate" he said and.
Alanna watched him as he twisted and moved through the crowd, she touched her cropped hair and tucked a loose strand behind her ear before walking purposely to the palace.
A hand grasped her shoulder and spun her round.
"Thom?" said a grinning twinkling eyed thief.
"no" Alanna tensed, and slipped away from the strange man.
"I'm his twin brother, Alan"
"Why aren't you at the palace?" George frowned, and crossed his arms suspiciously, knowing that something was a little off with Alan.
"I went to learn sorcery, I've some to see him" she said, "can you get a hold of Thom for me?" she asked
"Sure what's in it for me" George asked slyly
Alanna pressed a poster into his hands, "Can you tell him to come to the circus tonight, and that his twin brother Alan wants to explain"
George nodded unsure why he agreed to help this strange little boy.
"I'm George you can find me at the Dancing Dove"
Alanna thanked him and ran off, stuffing posters into people's hands.